Farm-Africa bids to reclaim 'ethical giving' crown

Ngaio Bowthorpe has joined the organisation after less than a year as a press and PR officer at deaf-blind charity Sense.

The role replaces the press manager post held by Sarah Gillam, who left at the end of May, but encompasses a broader remit to step up the charity’s proactive PR.

Bowthorpe, who reports to director of fundraising Michael Newsome, said versions of the ‘goat scheme’ pioneered by the charity 21 years ago had been adopted by other organisations. ‘Ethical giving is used by many charities, and it is important that Farm-Africa stands out in the sector,’ she said. ‘We want to target a broader audience and contact potential donors.’

The charity’s involvement in the Make Poverty History campaign had been a fillip to its profile, and the new role was created to keep that momentum going, she added.

Farm-Africa works with small-scale farmers and herders in eastern and southern Africa, helping them to make the best of their resources and live without aid.

Bowthorpe’s first task is to plan the charity’s annual Farm Friends ethical giving Christmas campaign. Before Sense, she worked in film publicity.